which would you rather have

[philippa47]

loveing the warm weather but heres a good one for everyone I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 7 years ago then last year doc said I didn't have it but I had fibromyalgia instead now a diffrant doc is saying he thinks I got rheumatoid arthritis what would you preffer fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis

[Hidden]

mmm what a choice lol its hardly like saying chobcolate gateux or strawberry trifle is it lol , i dont think through choice i would want or wish either on anyone they both have such debillitataing effects on lives , i do hope your doctor can sort out a proper diagnosis for you bless your heart x take care love diddle x

[julie51]

constant guess work with docs, haven't got a lot of faith at the moment-take care xxx

[lynz]

my mum has rheumatoid arthritis , and although it can damage your bones there is a lot of things they can give you to slow it down ,it can seem like a full recovery ,although you still have it obviously ,

it depends on what meds they give you and what someone can cope with i.e side effects etc

me personally would rather i had that ,with my exsperience of my mum ,which is only one person i know ,but some of the things she takes i like wonder drugs lol

shes like a different person compared to a few years ago .

[philippa47 in reply to lynz]

when they thorght I had RA I had steriod jabs which made me gain weight and I looked into RA and disscovered it doesn't just affect joints it can also attack organs

[lynz in reply to philippa47]

oh i didnt know that sorry ,but my knowledge isnt much only what ive seen with my mum ,and the wonderful things they do to help her ,

[Lioslaith]

As someone who has both I couldn't say which would be, say, an improvement on the other to be honest. I was diagnosed with RA at 28, confirmed for the second time at 30, and diagnosed with Fibro at 31.

It's been almost a decade now since the Fibro was diagnosed but to be honest I find it difficult to figure out which is causing a particular pain, except when it comes to joint pain which I know is RA centric.

The one, I dare to say good, thing about RA is that people (read DWP, ATOS etc.,) can't argue that RA is in the head, not real and so forth as it is clinically proven a bit more and believed in more than fibro is sadly.

[Sammicat15]

All things considered, RA. That was my official diagnosis back in 1997. It stabilised and I was able to lead a pretty normal lifestyle until a few years later when I began developing other symptoms which included pain, pain and more pain. It took until 2007 to be formally diagnosed with FM as well. I managed the condition as best I could for another 3 years until I had a breakdown.

RA was easier to pinpoint and meant resting various joints at various times. FM is insidious and all encompassing. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, although I'd be happy to pass it on to a few cruel dictators and some child murderers!

[philippa47]

yes I had blood tests 7 years ago and they said I had RA then last year they said new test on blood said I had imflamation but not enough for RA and said I had Fibo instead. I have had new test done last week just waiting for results. New doc was saying RA cos my knuckles are baddly swolen

[philippa47]

got blood test results looks like I got both and I am very low in iron so I am off to chew on some nails now lol